Childhood sexual abuse. Women's health when starting in group therapy
Author
Summary, in English
Childhood sexual abuse has been shown to be common among adult women, 15-30% in prevalence studies, and among mentally ill women, 25-77%. These women often suffer from depression, anxiety, sexual and relationship problems. Suicide attempts and self-destructive behaviour are common. Within the Department of Psychiatry at Lund University Hospital, 45 women with experiences of childhood sexual abuse were offered a 2-year-long trauma-focused group therapy. They were well educated but 27% were unemployed. Nearly half of the group had made suicide attempts, 87% had had suicidal thoughts and, according to the questionnaire SCL-90, they were suffering from psychiatric symptoms significantly to a greater degree than both a general group and a clinical group with mixed diagnoses. According to the questionnaire ISSI, they were less well socially integrated than both a general group and a clinical group, and the degree of social adjustment according to the questionnaire SAS-SR was lower than in a general group. The study shows that childhood sexually abused women seeking therapy are a symptom-burdened group. These women probably need psychiatric treatment of a particular character. Special group therapy for these women can potentially improve their health.
Publishing year
2004
Language
English
Pages
25-32
Publication/Series
Nordic Journal of Psychiatry
Volume
58
Issue
1
Document type
Journal article
Publisher
Informa Healthcare
Topic
- Psychiatry
Keywords
- Group therapy
- Sexual abuse
- Women's health
Status
Published
ISBN/ISSN/Other
- ISSN: 1502-4725